Volleyball: Kewpies keep winning pace against Bruins

The Hickman and Rock Bridge volleyball teams were not in physics class Saturday, but both received a lesson in momentum.

The Kewpies defeated the Bruins 25-16, 25-16 at Hickman. The Kewpies improved to 12-7-1 while the Bruins fell to 5-9.

Hickman pulled away midway through the first game. Leading 17-15, the Kewpies gained control of the serve and scored the next two points with pinpoint passes from seniors Heather Grice and Lindsey Fleming. The rest was up to Megan Schlader, who served two aces and added two more kills for a 6-0 run.

The Kewpies’ momentum carried over into the second game, and Hickman jumped out to a 9-1 lead. Rock Bridge coach Beth Newton said the Bruins’ youth prevented them from keeping their composure once they fell behind.

“When they come out and things are going their way, they feed off that,” she said. “But if we lose momentum instead and things don’t go our way, we stop talking to each other or start placing blame and get down on themselves.”

Hickman coach Greg Gunn said the rivalry added to the power of momentum.

“When Hickman and Rock Bridge play each other it’s always more intense so when a shift in momentum occurs that can affect the whole game,” he said. “Our team played well and didn’t let anything happen that would let Rock Bridge regain that momentum.”